KAHLIL GRIFFIN (PHOTO VIA PADUCAH POLICE DEPT)
MURRAY MAN WANTED IN PADUCAH SHOOTING DEATH
Police in Paducah are searching for a Murray man who faces charges in Thursday afternoon’s shooting death of 28-year old Thomas Wilett. Police said during the investigation of the shooting it was determined that 20-year old Kahlil Griffin of Murray was the trigger man who fled from the scene of the crime. Police arrested 25-year old Justin Wells of Paducah shortly after the shooting at the intersection of Elmdale Drive and Jameswood Drive, where the victim was located. Willett was taken to Mercy Health Lourdes Hospital where he died about two hours later, according to police. Wells was charged with complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence. Police said Griffin’s whereabouts is not known and anyone with that information is urged to call police. Citizens are urged not to approach Griffin, as he is considered armed and dangerous.
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO DRUG CHARGE FOR MURRAY MAN
A McCracken County Sheriff’s Department deputy made a traffic stop at 12:25 Saturday morning for a traffic violation at the intersection of Oregon Street and Cumberland Avenue in Paducah. During the investigation, 49-year-old Bradley Smith of Murray was determined to be driving under the influence. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were also allegedly found. Smith was charged with DUI, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, rear license not illuminated, and failure to produce an insurance card. He was lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.
TAX CREDIT PROGRAM OFFERS STATE TAX CREDIT
The Endow Kentucky Tax Credit Program offers taxpayers an opportunity to help their community and receive a tax credit toward their Kentucky Income Tax. For a contribution to endowed permanent funds at a qualified community foundation, a taxpayer may receive a 20% tax credit up to $10,000 per donor per taxable year. The deadline to submit an application through the Murray-Calloway County Community Foundation is June 30. For more information contact President of the Foundation, Harold Hurt at 270-761-5735 or Matt Hale at 270-227-6295.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID REPORT
The Calloway County Health Department reported 2 new cases of COVID-19 last Thursday and Friday, bringing the county’s total during the pandemic to 3,538. Of that total, 3,475 have recovered, 12 are isolated at home, 2 are hospitalized, and there have been 49 deaths, but none since April 15. As of Sunday, 34.8% of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 69.3% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Sunday was 2.34%, which is up from Thursday’s rate of 1.31%.
KENTUCKY COVID REPORT
At yesterday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 88 new cases and 3 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 7,158 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Sunday, there have been over 6.75 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.02%, which is lower than last Sunday’s rate of 2.45%. There are 221 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 60 less than last Sunday, including 64 in ICU, which is 20 less than one week ago. At least 53,218 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. As of Sunday, 2,114,258 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 48% total, including 82% of those 65 and older.
WKRECC WARNS OF SCAM CALLS
West Kentucky RECC has received reports of scammers calling West Kentucky RECC members this past weekend. The caller ID shows that the call is coming from WKRECC, but it is not. The callers demand immediate payment and are threatening to disconnect if payment is not received. Don’t be a victim–HANG UP. Also, please make sure elderly family and friends know what to do when scammers call.
WALLACE SELECTED TO JET PROGRAM
Recent Murray State University Honors College graduate David Wallace has been selected to represent the United States in this year’s Japan Exchange and Teaching program. The JET program is a competitive job opportunity that allows young professionals to live and work in Japan’s cities, towns, and villages. Since its inception in 1987, JET has placed over 70,000 people from all over the world in schools, boards of education, and government offices around Japan. Participating in the JET program is an opportunity to work and to represent one of 55 participating countries as cultural ambassadors to Japan. Originally from Hanson, Kentucky, Wallace graduated from Murray State in May 2021 summa cum laude with a double major in History and Japanese.
NO TUITION HIKE AT WKCTC
The 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, including West Kentucky Community and Technical College will not be raising tuition. The KCTCS Board of Regents last week approved the decision to freeze tuition for 2021-2022 academic year at the current rate of $179 per credit hour. Several factors went into the decision, including the financial hardships many families suffered due COVID-19. WKCTC President Anton Reece agreed with the move, and thanked the Board of Regents for recognizing students may still have financial barriers to higher education even as CDC and others are lifting restrictions put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RACER ACADEMY ACCEPTING STUDENTS
Racer Academy is Murray State University’s dual credit program offered to high school juniors and seniors. Students may take these courses while in high school and work ahead to earn college credit hours. The new certificates are offered to high school students, establishing pathways that directly apply toward a degree at Murray State. This is the first year that Racer Academy has awarded pathway certificates to students who have completed the required 12-13 credit hours in their degree pathway. To join the Racer Academy, potential students must be a high school junior or senior with a minimum unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0, or rank in the top half of their class. More information is available at murraystate.edu/raceracademy.
NCES TEACHER NAMED TO TEACHERS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Fourteen Kentucky public school educators have been named to the Kentucky Department of Education’s Teachers Advisory Council. Among the new council members are Kaysin Higgins, a First Grade teacher at North Calloway Elementary School. The council is designed to improve Kentucky’s educational landscape by providing the commissioner of education with direct input from classrooms. Bridging the gap between policy and practice, the TAC was created to advise the commissioner on educational priorities so students of the Commonwealth are well-prepared for any career they choose. New members will begin their three-year term at the council’s next meeting on Thursday.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—After serving 15 years on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Judge Joy Kramer will retire September 1. She was first elected in 2006 to serve the 21 counties in Division 2 of the 6th Appellate District and was re-elected in 2014. Judge Kramer has 29 years of public service. She was a special education teacher before attending law school. Because this vacancy will occur outside of the election cycle, a Judicial Nominating Commission will meet to fill it by appointment.
SCOTT COUNTY—Clean up is underway after storms caused damage in several Kentucky counties. Weekend storms led to high waters, downed trees, flooding, and mudslides in some areas of Scott, Clarke, and Fayette County. Flooding also hit Lee County, washing out roads and leading to mudslides. Lee County EMA Director Jon Allen says it could take months or even a year to repair all the damage.
FRANKFORT—Kentucky State University is fighting multiple lawsuits alleging different forms of misconduct. One lawsuit claims a whistleblower was fired after calling out several school officials for sexual harassment of students. The officials involved no longer work at the school. KSU’s president isn’t commenting on the allegations, but says new policies and training are in place.
LEXINGTON—A new facility in Clark County will provide a home for female veterans transitioning to civilian life. Anna’s House is run by Lady Veterans Connect and provides everything from job application assistance, guidance on dressing for interviews and careers, to nutrition, and healing relationships with family. There are 32 beds in the current facility, with plans to build colleges for women with children.
JOHNSON COUNTY—Officials with the Johnson County Bar Association are announcing the death of a longtime attorney and judge. Officials with the organization say Stephen “NicK” Frazier died Thursday night at his home. He served as a circuit judge from 1984 until his retirement in 2005. He also taught political science and law at the former Pikeville College and Prestonburg Community College and was a former city attorney in Paintsville. Funeral arrangements are pending.
MADISONVILLE—Police say a driver was medically evaluated following a two-vehicle crash in Madisonville. The crash happened Saturday on South Main Street near Dulin Street when one truck failed to yield and hit another truck. The driver in the vehicle that was hit was taken to the hospital for possible injuries.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro Police are investigating a shooting. Officers responded Friday to the 18-hundred-block of East 17th Street where they found a 28-year-old man with two gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
BARDSTOWN—Kentucky is celebrating National Bourbon Day. Bardstown is considered the bourbon capital of the world. There are nearly a dozen distilleries within the 16 miles of Bardstown. The assessed value of the barrels aging in Kentucky is nearly two-billion dollars.
LOUISVILLE—A Kentucky Air National Guardsman is being honored for his life-saving actions. Master Sergeant Daniel Keller received the Airman’s Medal on Saturday. It’s the highest medal given by the Air Force for non-combat heroism. In November of 2018, Sergeant Keller pulled an unconscious man from a burning SUV while ammunition inside was going off following a two-vehicle crash on Bardstown Road.
TENNESSEE—A Tennessee man convicted of killing his five-year-old autistic son faces life in prison when he’s sentenced in September. Joseph Daniels was found guilty on Saturday of felony murder and second-degree murder in the death of Joe Clyde Daniels. Joseph Daniels faced five charges, including first-degree premeditate murder, aggravated child abuse, initiating a false report and tampering with evidence. Joe Clyde disappeared from his family’s Dickson County home in early April of 2018, however, his body has not been found.
TENNESSEE—The remains of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife are at an undisclosed location in Middle Tennessee. Memphis officials said on Friday that the remains of Forrest and Mary Ann Montgomery were discovered at a park early last week. However, it’s not clear when they were exhumed. The remains of the early leader of the Ku Klux Klan and his wife will eventually be transferred to a Confederate museum in Middle Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—The success of both the Vanderbilt and UT baseball teams isn’t going unnoticed by Governor Bill Lee. Governor Lee tweeted at both teams last night, congratulating them on winning their Super Regionals over the weekend. UT will play in the College World Series in Omaha for the first time since 2005, while Vanderbilt is the defending national champion. Lee said it’s exciting “to have two talented teams representing Tennessee” in the College World Series.
ILLINOIS—Nearly 300 new COVID-19 cases are being reported in Illinois. Health officials announced the new cases yesterday, along with eleven additional deaths. Officials say 625 people in the state are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses, with 93 on ventilators. Over one-point-three-million Illinoisans have tested positive for the virus and more than 23-thousand have died.
